Jar closure



E. P. RICE JR cLosuRE Filed Augf 5, 19`26 if Edward wit \1 @0090 Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

PATENToF FICE. g

EDWARD P. RICE, 0F EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN.

JAR CLOSURE.

Application led August 5, 1926. Serial No. 127,414.

This invention relates to closures for lass fruit jars or the like and has for its principal object the provision of an improved closure and means for clamping the same upon the jar in such manner as to prevent any possibility of leakage of air and consequent spoiling of the contents.

An important object of the invention 4is to provide a closure and clamping means thereforv embodying movabl mounted cam elements separately opera le thoughv intendedfor simultaneous o eration, these lcam elements being rotata le upon trunnions projecting from and formed integrally with 'the jar or other receptacle, it being consequently unnecessary to provide any wire supports or the like such as form of clamping mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure Land clamping means therefor embodying separate rotatable cammem` bers having a U-shaped` bail member connected therewith and extendin transversely of the closure for urging te same into closed pos1t1on and into compressing en ment with a rubber ring or gasket, thoe U- shaped member being so arranged and mounted that the arms thereof will lie close to the jar and the closure, distortionl and stretching of the kU-shfaped memberunder strain being consequently preventedso that theV proper holding action at all times will be assured.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a clamping means for this purpose which is so constructed that it may be quickl engaged with or disengagedfrom the jar, this eature greatly facllitating initial assembling of the parts or replacement thereof in case of necessity.

Still another'l object is the provision o a clamping means ofthis character in which thecam members for placing the clamp under tension are provided with stops which coact with the arm'sof the closure engaging member instead of reliance being placed upon an operatin bail such as is provided in some types of c amps.

A further object is to provide an'improved joint between'the jar and its closure so as to insure proper compression of'the rubber ring or gasket and eiect ak positive seal.

An additional object is the provision of a closure and clamping means which will be simple and inexpensive to'manufacture, easy parts of cert-ain types ment of a ar or other Vreceptacle showing the closure in place and held by the clamping means. p

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, and' Figure 3 is a detail perspectiveview of one of the cam members.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10designates, generally, a fruit jar or the like which may be of the ordinary type and which has a mouthV 11 adapted to be closed by a cap 12 disposed thereon and having a depending flange 13 telescoping within the mouth ofthe jar. An outstanding, annular flange 14 is formed around the mouth of the jar to providey a shoulder which constitutes a relatively broad seat for the cap and is preferably provided with an upstanding ridge or rib 15 upon which is engaged the usual rubber ring or l.gasket 16. That portion of the capengagin@r upon the ring 16 is provided with an annu ar groove 12a` slightly wider than the rib l5 and, when pressureis applied to the capV for holding it in closed position, the ring 16" will be highl compressed between the ridge or rib 15 an the groove 12a in the cap so as to form an effective seal. VThe cap is preferablyconcavo-convex in cross section and its top is preferably provided with spaced, rounded lugs 12b located at the center thereof `for engaging a. clamping device to be described.

Formed upon the jar and projecting outwardly therefrom at diametrically opposite points and in slightly spaced relation beneath the flange 121 are trunnions 17 which are' substantially round in cross section and upon which are rotatably engaged cam members designated generally bythe numeral 1S. Each 'of these members may be conveniently formed from a single piece of sheet metal. stamped in the proper shape and each includes a. body or handle 19 of elongated form having an opening20 therein surrounded for rotatable engagement upon a trunnion. The closure clamping means further includes an inverted U-shaped bail member 22 preferably of wire of suitable gauge having its bight portion 23 adapted to engage upon the cap 12 in transverse relation thereto and bef tween the aforesaid lugs 12", the member further including spaced parallel arms 24 which are located immediately adjacent the ends of the trunnions 17 and which have inwardly directed bent ends 25 rotatably engaged through holes 26 in the members 18,v

these holes being located in spaced relation to the openings 20 or flanges 21. To facilitate movement of the members 18 without discomfort to the operator, the body or handle portions 19 thereof are preferably formed with lateral extensions 27 provided with flat bearing surfaces against which the fingers or thumbs of the operator may be enfraged. j

The members 18 aie rotatable for the purpose of drawing down the U`shaped member or bail 22 into clamping engagement with the cap 12 and, to maintain the parts in thi position, the members 18 are preferably provided with laterally extending lugs 28 so lof cated with respectto the holes 26, where the U-shaped member is pivoted, that when the members 18 are turned to draw the U-shaped member 22 into clamping engagement with the cap, thelugs 28 will engage against the arms 24 and consequently prevent further movement in that direction as well as movement in the other direction owing to the fact that these lugs are past center with respect to the pivot points of the U-shaped clamping member.

In the operation, it is of course apparent that when it is desired to apply the cap or closure the members 18 must be in such position that the U-shaped member or bail 22 will not be under tension and may be swung downwardly outof obstructing rela-v tion to the jar mouth so that the cap may be placed in position.v The cap having been seated upon the ring or gasket, with the lugs 12b properly located to receive the bight portion 23 of the bail, the U-sliaped memer or clamping bail 22 is swung over to eX- tend across the center thereof, vwhen said portion 23 may be sprung into position between tlie lugs, and the members 18 are swung in a direction to draw the member 22 downwardly. This action occurs for the reason that the` pivotal connections of the arms of the U-shaped member, with the members 18, are eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation thereof and it isv for this reason thatthe members 18 have been designated as cam members, inasmuch as ytheir movement produces a cam effect. When the members have been swung or turned to draw the clamp 22 and cap`12 toward the vjar and after the members 18 have been turned to that extent that the arms 24 are slightly beyond the axis of the members 25, or past center, the lugs 28 engage the arms and maintain the parts against movement, with the gasketV 16 tightly clamped between the rib 15 of the jar and the groove 12 of the In view of the fact that the members 18 are of suoli simple construction and simply slipped onto the trunnions 17, it is clear that the work of initially assembling the parts or replacing them in case of necessity will be greatly facilitated. However, the member 22 has sufficient rigidity to prevent accidental disengagement of theinembers 18 from the trumiions. Attention is directed to the fact that the arms 24 are immediately adjacent the ends of the trunnions and in fact just clear the saine, this being an advantage inasmuch as the bringing `of the arms inwardly toward the jar to `the maximum extent produces likelihood of distortion or stretching of the parts under strain. It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the' invention, it should be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim n 1. In combination, a container having a mouth,'a closure for the mouth, trunnions formed on the container at opposite sides thereof, clamping means for the closure coinprising a pair of members having bearing sleeves thereon rotatably engaged upon the trunnions and removable therefrom, and a clamping bail engageablel with the closure and having its end portions pivotally connected with said members eccentric te the openings therein.

2. In combination, a container having a mouth, a closure therefor, trunnions formed on the containerv at opposite sides thereof, clamping means for the closure comprising a pair of separate members having bearing sleeves rotatably engaged upon the trunnions and removable therefrom, a clamping bail engageable with the closure and having its end portions pivotally connected with 4said members eccentrieally of the axes of the trunnions, and sto means on said members engageable with said bail.

3. In combination, a container having a mouth, a closuretherefor, trunnions formed integrally with and projecting from the con-A tamer at opposite sides thereof, separate elongated `members, having bearing sleeves thereonrotatably engaged upon the respective trunnions and removable therefrom, said members being formed With finger pieces, a

' clamping bail engageable transversely of the Closure and havingV its ends pivotally connected with said members eccentrically of the openings therein, and lugs on said inembers engageable with the adjacent portions of said bail for effecting locking, the end portions of said bail being past center with respect to the trunnons when in looked position.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing asmy own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature.

EDWARD P. RICE. 

